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Prime Minister P.J. Patterson left the island today, (Wednesday March 24), to attend the Fifteenth Inter-sessional meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in St. Kitts & Nevis. After his extended term as Chairman of the Caribbean Community, Mr. Patterson will at this meeting demit office and hand over the chairmanship of CARICOM to the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda.
While matters relating to the situation in Haiti will feature prominently among the agenda items, Heads of Government are also expected to receive an update on the implementation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), which includes the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
Heads of Government are also slated to receive a report from the Prime Ministerial Expert Group on Options for Governance, as well as an update on preparations for the Caribbean to host the Cricket World Cup in 2007.
Prime Minister Patterson returns to the island on Saturday, March 27. During his absence, the Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of National Security, will be in charge of the Government.